#010: Exercise, A Busy Parent's Hack For Productivity

When kids came into the picture, exercise became a luxury I couldn’t afford. “Too busy” for that occasional motivation to get my body moving.

I was a 225-pound man with low energy and anger issues. And after a pre-diabetes diagnosis (read about that here), I finally committed to make exercise a non-negotiable.

If my to-do list had to take a back seat to my health, so be it! I forced working out into my schedule.

And it turned out to be an amazing parenting hack.

Exercise is the game-changing habit for any busy mom or dad.

Here’s 5 reasons why:

Better Focus

Exercise boosts cognitive function, helping you stay sharp and focused throughout the day.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, by working your physical body, you create chemicals that lower resistance to insulin and swelling. You also encourage the production of growth factors which help make new blood vessels in your brain and take care of new brain cells.

Each day has a lot to navigate, but I feel better mental clarity and focus on the days I do even as little as a 10 minute HIIT workout. (I used this YouTube workout to build the habit for the first few weeks).

As we all know, it’s important to maintain a sharp mind to handle the curve balls kids throw at us. Exercise is a great way to keep you on your toes.

Elevated Mood

Physical activity releases endorphins, reducing stress and enhancing overall mood.

And who doesn’t want to chill out?

The year 2020 brought out the worst in me. I noticed I was getting triggered more easily and had zero patience. The days were long and depressing.

To my surprise, as I kept putting in work with my YouTube workouts, my patience increased and my anger decreased. My outlook on life became brighter, and best of all, I felt energized.

Increased Energy

Regular exercise increases stamina, combating parental fatigue and promoting sustained energy levels.

This is why I prefer morning workouts. But do whatever can be maintained within your daily routine.

It's the greatest launch pad to the day. Putting effort into working out results in more energy. Huge ROI.

As a post-workout bonus, take a cold shower to elevate dopamine levels for an extended period.

It’s my fav.

Time Management

Incorporating daily exercise will push you to improve your efficiency and time management.

Let’s be honest. None of us “have enough time” to exercise. But I made a decision to prioritize my health, so working out became more important than sleeping in, scrolling Instagram, or bingeing Netflix.

I learned how efficient I could be with my job and home chores when there was something I truly wanted.

Setting up time blocks for the day and committing to them pushed me to grow in this area.

Role Modeling

Exercising will promote a healthy lifestyle to your kids from an early age.

Our girls seeing us workout inspires them to do their own workouts just for fun. They randomly break out into jumping jacks and burpees. It's funny to see but also incredibly motivating. They are coming to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy body.

I'm very transparent with my girls. They know I strengthen my body so I can carry, lift, and toss them around. Occasionally, they will insist I get my workout in for the day so they can sit on my shoulders later on.

Building an exercise habit has been more beneficial than I ever thought it could be. Much more than a muscle-builder or rejuvenator. It has the inherent benefits of mental focus, emotional regulation, and daily productivity.

Try this counter-intuitive habit for 30 days and see how you thrive as a parent!

You’re family deserves to have you at your best. And most of all, you deserve you at your best.

Go for 1% daily gains this week!